Digital splint

ABSTRACT

A digital splint adapted for use with a finger of a human wearer. The splint includes a generally cylindrical, substantially rigid hollow member in which the finger is inserted, and at least one spring clip member which engages the finger through a pair of mutually opposed slots in the hollow member, and which thereby secures the hollow member to the finger.

United States Patent 151 3,692,022 Ewing 1 Sept. 19, 1972 [54] DIGITALSPLINT 3,421,761 1/1969 Grant 128/87 A X 7 I t E. N. i 2] nven or g gfiltf s mz g Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J.Yasko [22] Filed: Dec. 30, 1970 Attorney-Harry A. Herbert, Jr. and ArsenTashjian [21] Appl. No.: 102,584 [57] ABSTRACT [52] U S Cl 128/87 A Adigital splint adapted for use with a finger of a [51] In} .Cl "$6M 5/04human wearer The li i l de a generally cylin- [58] Fie'ld A 89 81drical, substantially rigid hollow member in which the f finger isinserted, and at least one spring clip member [56] References Citedwhich engages the finger through a pair of mutually opposed slots in thehollow member, and which thereby secures the hollow member to thefinger.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDSEP 1 m2 3.692.022

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INVENTOR. v 29:4 i. EMA 6 This invention relates to splints and, moreparticu larly, to a splint for a finger, i.e., a digit.

Although the invention will be discussed asadapted for use as a splintfor a finger of a human, this is by way of illustration only, and not byway of any limitation.

Additionally, the term finger," as used herein, is intended to mean theterminating members of a hand, including the thumb in humans.

Splints, as such, are old inthe medical and healing arts. The basicpurposes of a finger splint are toprotect the injured finger fromfurther injury, to immobilizeit, and to support the finger. Thesepurposes all aid and promote the healing of the finger.

Unfortunately, conventionalfinger splints are painful in that a fairamount of pressure on the injured finger is required in applying and inremoving the splint. Also, theuse of conventional finger splintsrequires that the injured finger by kept dry and,if wet, that thesplintbe replaced. Further, if theinjured finger is to be soaked,

the splint must be removed; and, after soaking, the finger must becompletely dried and the splint must be reapplied. As can be surmised,the removal and reapplication of the splint is not only painful to theuser, but also is laborious and time-consuming to the person removingand reapplying the splint.

There has been, and there still is, therefore, a critical need for afinger splint which not only protects, supports and immobilizes thefinger, but which also is painless .in application and in removal andwhich also permits soaking without removal, and adequate ventilation toaid healing.

I have made such an invention. lntaddition, my invention is inexpensive,in relation to conventional finger splints, and is reusable, unlikeconventional finger splints.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a digital, i.e. afinger splint.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel digital splint whichprotects the injured finger from further injury, which supports thefinger, and which immobilizes it.

Another object of this invention is to provide a digital splint which ispainless to apply and toremove.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a digital splintwhich will allow soaking of the injured finger, and adequate ventilationthereafter, without removal of the splint.

A further object of this invention is to provide a digital splint whichis inexpensive and, therefore, may be disposed of after use, but whichmay be reused if desired or if necessary.

These objects, and still other and related ones, of this invention willbecome readily apparent after a consideration of the description of theinvention and reference to the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE. DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a majorcomponent of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, of the major component shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. .3 is a front elevation view of another major component of thepreferred embodiment of the invention; and 1 FIG. 4 is a rear elevationview of the preferred embodiment of the invention showing the positionalrelationship of the two major components shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Member 10 also has pairs ofmutually opposed'slots,

such as l5.and 17, and 16 and 18, along its length. Here too the spacingis at regular intervals, but may be at random. :Perforations, such as.11, 12, 13 and 14, and

slots,such.as 15, 16, 17 and 18, are through the wall 19 of hollowmember10. Member 10 is shown ashaving, but need not have, a tapered front end20. Tapered frontend 20 is in the general form of a frustum of a coneand is hollow.

In FIG. 3 is shownanother majorcomponent 30 of the preferred embodimentof the invention. Component 30, which will be referred to hereinafter asspring clip,is shaped so that the principal portion 31 is generally inthe form of a C withbends, 32 and 33 at 33Gb end, and extensions 34 and35 therefrom. Attached-to each end of each extension 34 and 35 is a tab36 and ,37 .Spring clip'30 ismade of a resilient material, preferablyaplastic material, although metal may be used.

In FIG. 4 is shown the positional relationship of major components 10(i.e. hollow member) and 30 (i.e. springclip)of the preferred embodimentof the invention. It is to be noted thatbends32 and 33 of spring clip 30are positioned within and through, respectively, mutually opposed slots,suchas l5 and 17, of hollow member 10.

MODE OF OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT When it is necessary toplacea finger in a splint, the finger is positioned within hollow member10, FIGS. 1, 2 and 4,with the fingernail portion of the finger in thetapered front end 20, FIGS. 1 and 2. This positioning is accomplished byinserting the finger into hollow member 10, FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, whileatthe sametime slipping the hollow member 10, FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, onto thefinger. This is a quick and painless procedure.

Next, spring clip 30, FIGS. 3 and 4, is grasped by tabs 36 and 37, FIGS.3 and 4. These tabs, 36 and 37, are moved toward each other, therebymoving bends 32 and 33, FIGS. 3 and 4, away from each other. Spring clip30, FIGS. 3 and 4, is thenfitted over and onto hollow member 10, FIGS.1, 2 and 4, with bends 32 and 33, FIGS. 3 and 4, inserted into andpositioned through, respectively, mutually opposed slots, such as and17, as shown in FIG. 4. Spring clip 30, FIGS. 3 and 4, thereby, engages,holds and secures hollow member 10, FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, to the fingerwithin the said hollow member 10. The finger is, therefore, nowprotected from further injury, is supported and is immobilized.

It is here to be noted that, although reference has been made to the useof a, i.e. one, spring clip 30, FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of springclips, such as 30, may be used to secure hollow member 10, FIGS. 1, 2and 4, to the finger. The bends 32 and 33, FIGS. 3 and 4, of each springclip, such as 30, would in that case be inserted into and positionedthrough a separate pair of mutually opposed slots, such as 15 and 17, 16and 18, FIG. 2. In other words, a spring clip would engage slots 15 and17, another spring clip would engage slots 16 and 18, and so forth.

It is also to be noted that the hollow member, such as 10, is notintended to fit snugly or tightly, or to cling to the finger. Therefore,hollow members, such as 10, are made in different diameters to suit theparticular circumstance so that the hollow member, such as 10, fitsloosely on the finger, but is adjacent the surface thereof.

It is further to be noted that the finger while in the splint may,nevertheless, be soaked without being removed from the splint. This ispossible because of the perforations, such as 11 and 12, FIG. 1, whichpermit the ingress and the egress of the liquid and which, additionally,permit ventilation of the finger. The ventilation also promotes healing.

While there have been shown and described the fundamental features ofthe invention, as applied to a preferred embodiment, it is to beunderstood that various substitutions and omissions may be made by thoseof ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention. For example: (1) the number and position of the slots, suchas 15 and 17, FIG. 2, and of the perforations, such as 11 and 12, FIG.1, may be varied, changed and otherwise modified; (2) the invention maybe adapted for use with human limbs, e.g.

arms and legs, or for use by animals; and (3) hollow,

mutually opposed slots through said hollow member along its lengththereof;

b. and, means, engaging said slots, to secure said hollow member to afinger of a human wearer thereof, wherein said means includes at leastone spring clip member, of resilient material, which engages a pair ofmutually opposed slots of said hollow member and the finger insertedwithin said hollow wli e b y tlie finger of the human wearer isprotected, supported, and immobilized within and by said hollow member.

1. A digital splint, adapted for use with a finger of a human wearerthereof, comprising: a. a generally cylindrical, substantially rigid,hollow member, open at both ends;
 1. with said hollow member beingperforated along its length to allow soaking and ventilation of thefinger;
 2. and, with said hollow member having pairs of mutually opposedslots through said hollow member along its length thereof; b. and,means, engaging said slots, to secure said hollow member to a finger ofa human wearer thereof, wherein said means includes at least one springclip member, of resilient material, which engages a pair of mutuallyopposed slots of said hollow member and the finger inserted within saidhollow member; whereby the finger of the human wearer is protected,supported, and immobilized within and by said hollow member.
 2. and,with said hollow member having pairs of mutually opposed slots throughsaid hollow member along its length thereof; b. and, means, engagingsaid slots, to secure said hollow member to a finger of a human wearerthereof, wherein said means includes at least one spring clip member, ofresilient material, which engages a pair of mutually opposed slots ofsaid hollow member and the finger inserted within said hollow member;whereby the finger of the human wearer is protected, supported, andimmobilized within and by said hollow member.